Shloka 23
राक्षसपरिषद्वाक्यम्
Counsel of the Rakshasa Court to Ravana
शक्तितोमरमीनंचविनिकीर्णान्त्रशैवलम् ।गजकछपसम्बाधमश्वमण्डूकसंकुलम् ।।6.7.22।।रुद्रादित्यमहाग्राहंमरुद्वसुमहोरगम् ।रथश्वगजतोयौघंपदातिपुलिनंमहत् ।।6.7.23।।अनेनहिसमासाद्यदेवानांबलसागरम् ।गृहीतोदैवतपतिर्लङ्कांचापिप्रवेशितः ।।6.7.24।।
rudrāditya-mahā-grāhaṃ marudvasu-mahōragam |
rathaśva-gaja-toyaughaṃ padāti-pulinaṃ mahat ||6.7.23||
Samudra yang luas itu memiliki Rudra dan Āditya sebagai buaya-buaya raksasa, Marut dan Vasu sebagai ular-ular besar; gelombang airnya bagaikan arus kereta, kuda, dan gajah, dan hamparan pantainya adalah massa besar para prajurit pejalan kaki.
FAQs
Dharma here is implicit through contrast: true strength is aligned with the devas’ order, yet the counselors weaponize memory of defeating them to justify adharma; the ethical lesson is that rhetoric can be used to mask wrongdoing.
The counselors continue a grand metaphor to magnify Rāvaṇa’s past prowess, attempting to remove his fear of Rāma’s advance.
The verse foregrounds martial grandeur, but the narrative emphasizes the need for viveka (discernment), which the counselors notably lack.